Survey defines 6.52pm as ‘wine o’clock’

The perfect time to open a bottle of wine is at 6.52pm, according to a recent survey of British drinkers.

That is the time which typically falls before putting the children to bed, dinner and the start of prime time TV and is the most popular time to crack out the wine, according to a report by the Daily Mail. 

Those aged 20 to 30 were more likely to open wine earliest at 6.37pm, while those aged 30 to 40 the latest at 7.12pm, with the average Brit consuming 2.7 glasses of wine every night.

The survey, conducted by by electronic cigarette retailer ECigaretteDirect.co.uk to mark the launch of its new Chardonnay flavoured e-liquid, asked 670 people about their evening drinking habits.

It found that 84% of Brits aimed to observe at least two alcohol free evening a week, most commonly Monday and Tuesday.

One respondent said: “The first glass of wine signals the point when your day is officially over and you can enjoy your evening.

“For me it is usually around 7.15pm. By that time the children are in bed, the kitchen has been cleared after dinner, and my work phone is officially switched off.

“In fact there are some days when the weather is brilliant where all I can think about after 4pm is heading home and enjoying a chilled Chablis in the garden.”

The preferred wine time has not changed much since last year, when a similar survey carried out by Cobevco found the ideal time to open a bottle of wine was one minute later at 6.53pm on a Wednesday.